Port and Wey: 11 Sep 25

Chesil Cove

Seems I'm destined not to tick off a Grey Phalarope this year, with yet another blank at Chesil Cove. With rough seas and plenty of "rafts" the conditions looked pretty good, but no joy today.

Still it's always an interesting place to visit during heavy seas, though unfortunately I left it a little bit too late, when I decided to video an approaching weather front instead of heading back to shelter.

Yep you've guessed it, Ted and I were swamped by a torrential downpour and soaked through to the skin.

Sorry Ted.

Other than the obligatory gulls, I did spot a long-winged shearwater skimming the waves along Portland's west coast. But peering straight into the sun made it impossible to ID. Also seen was a Cormorant heading out to sea, and 5 very flighty Pied Wagtails on the beach. I would have photographed the latter, but this was the time Ted and I were legging it back to the car in the pouring rain.

Birds Recorded:
1 Shearwater sp.
1 Gannet - deceased
1 Cormorant
10+ Black-headed Gull
5 Mediterranean Gull
8 Herring Gull
5 Great Black-backed Gull
5 Pied Wagtail

Always a sad sight to see a dead bird wherever you are. This an adult Gannet and has either died of old age or possibly the dreaded avian flu.

Just on its bulkiness I'm going to say that...............

..............this a Cormorant............................

........................... and not a Shag. Glad to be corrected.

Nothing unusual here. An adult Winter Black-headed Gull.

But I don't ever recall seeing a Black-headed Gull dipping its head under the water and then......

..........a lot more to look at something below. I wonder what it was looking at!!

Seems it's normal behaviour and I haven't been observant enough in the past.

On the left an adult Winter Black-headed Gull sporting a metal ring on its left leg. And on the right two adult Winter Mediterranean Gulls.

Another adult Winter Mediterranean Gull

On the left a 1st Winter Mediterranean Gull and on the right an adult Great Black-backed Gull.

There is something to be said with an adult Great Black-backed Gull photographed in sunlight against an incoming weather front. My shot of the day, even if it has blood around its beak.

A 4cy Great Black-backed Gull - Example here.

A 1cy Great Black-backed Gull with an odd looking beak which looks quite elongated. On close inspection it looks like this individual has been feeding on something quite bloody which has discoloured the beak and the feathers next to it. Example here.

General Shots and videos:

Rather them than me. Two surfers opposite Quiddles in the corner of the cove.

It seems this boot has..................

................been in the sea for quite sometime with these Acorn Barnacles Semibalanus balanoides growing on it.

An "EPAL" Pallet washed up on the beach. According to Google:

"On a pallet, "EPAL" refers to the European Pallet Association, an organization that certifies and licenses manufacturers and repairers of standardized wooden Euro pallets. An EPAL-certified pallet is built to specific quality and size standards, making it a reliable, reusable, and interchangeable component in the global logistics system for efficient and safe shipping and handling of goods". So there you have it!!